Panama Leaks Case: SC resumes hearing today

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan will resume hearing of petitions regarding Panama Papers in Islamabad on Thursday (today). The larger five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and comprising Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Amir Hani Muslim, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan will conduct the hearing over Panama leaks. All the respondents will submit their comments regarding formation of a commission to investigate the Panama Papers issue. During the proceedings, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will also submit their replies in the court. Earlier, the apex court on Tuesday directed all the respondents to submit their comments to form a commission to investigate the Panama Papers leaks before adjourning the hearings. A petition filed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has leveled corruption allegations at Sharif and his family and demanded an investigation. Before its adjournment till Thursday (today), the court also expressed willingness to hold hearings on a daily basis. The decision came seven months after the leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm appeared to show that three of Sharif’s children had companies in the British Virgin Islands through which they owned properties in London’s exclusive Hyde Park neighborhood. Following the Supreme Court announcement, Khan called off the protest and said he would hold a celebratory gathering instead at Islamabad’s main parade ground. “Go home and rest,” Khan told his supporters. “You have to return to Islamabad tomorrow to celebrate thanksgiving.”